BWW Interviews: David Reuther, Jean Valjean in Theatre Royale's LES MISERABLES at the Fox Performing Arts Center.

The barricades will arise in Riverside from June 5th through June 6th when the Fox Performing Arts Center welcomes Theatre Royale's production of LES MISERABLES. The production has been touring Southern California since January, and FoxPAC will be its next to the last stop.

Broadway World recently spoke to David Reuther, the production's Jean Valjean, about Les Miz in general and his character in particular.

Mr. Reuther is a veteran of both stage and screen, who has served as casting director for AMERICAN IDOL and logged 300 performances as Joseph in the national tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. He was also nominated for a Grammy award for his work as a musical educator. Mr. Reuther tells Broadway World that he is "very proud of this production of LES MISERABLES." He points to the show's "amazing cast and director," and says that "our sets and lighting are spectacular."

Here is Broadway World's slightly edited email interview with Mr. Reuther:

Broadway World: Why do you think Les Miz has touched so many people, despite being "sung through" with almost classical-sounding music?
David Reuther: The songs from beginning to end are so powerful for all of the characters that sing them. The audience is taken on a journey through lives that they can both sympathize and relate to, giving the musical a simple but heartfelt message.

BWW: What, in your opinion, motivates JVJ (Jean Valjean), especially regarding his promise to Fantine to raise Cosette?
DR: JVJ's motivation is purely driven by his promise to God; taking care of Fantine and raising Cosette was all just him acting on that promise to God. I don't believe that it is jealousy with Cosette [when JVJ at first objects to her relationship with Marius] more than it is him being protective and making sure that there will always be someone there to keep his promise to Fantine, who, in my opinion, is the love of his life.

BWW: Many well-known actors have played JVJ. How do you stamp your own imprint on the role when everyone has an idea of how JVJ should be played and not all the ideas agree?
DR: I approach this role from a character standpoint. I allow the music and the melodies to compliment the character. I want to bring a real quality to his strength and perseverance, that is not necessarily in the music but is in his character.

BWW: To me, the most fascinating relationship in the show is the one between JVJ and his antagonist, Javert. Do you think Javert's obsession with bringing JVJ to "justice" helps influence JVJ to make the admirable choices that he does?
DR: No, I think he is driven with his promise to God and Javert has nothing to do with it other then forcing the choices because he is there.

BWW: Do you and the actor playing Javert [Paul Kehler] do anything ahead of time to ensure that the audience can feel the psychological bond - albeit a harmful bond - between the two men?
DR: Not before, but on stage we have certain looks that we give each other to get in to character. Side Note: my favorite scene in the whole show is "Confrontation."

BWW: People often mention THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and LES MISERABLES in the same breath. Do you see the Phantom and JVJ as people who started out in similar circumstances, but who made radically different choices in life?
DR: No. I can see how people can make the comparison because both musicals are very epic, but the Phantom is and always was a bad man doing bad things, ultimately falling in love but not redeeming himself in any way. JVJ is good and kind, and just trying to do the right thing but gets caught in the wrong situations. He betters himself each time he confronts a problem.

BWW: How on earth do you prepare for that high note at the end of "Bring Him Home"?
DR: Good question, but I can't give away all my secrets. The readers will just have to come see the show to hear it and try to figure it out.

Theatre Royale's LES MISERABLES will appear at the FoxPAC on Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th, at 8 p.m. both nights. The company's LES MIZ Web page is at www.lesmis2015theatreroyale.com. The theater is located at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue, in Riverside. Tickets may be purchased at the box office Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 noon to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 4:00 pm. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster locations and online at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.foxriversidelive.com, and by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800- 745-3000 during regular business hours. Ticketmaster's automated sales line is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-448-7849. Ticket prices, including fees, range from $89.25 to $106.50, plus tax.

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